The supreme food safety committee at the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition recommended lifting the ban imposed on importing fruits and vegetables from India except for those imported from Kerala state where the Nipah virus had struck. The ban on importing fresh and frozen fruits from Kerala will remain in effect until further notice.

The authority had held an urgent meeting to discuss the latest developments concerning the Nipah virus as well as a letter sent by the health ministry including WHO-related recommendations such as banning the import of fruits and vegetables from India and washing them thoroughly before use. The authority added that it had received a letter from the Indian ministry of agriculture explaining the measures it had already taken to stop the export of any fresh fruit and vegetable shipments out of Kerala state.